Ever since the Volkswagen Tiguan arrived back in 2007, it quickly became the go-to for those seeking a medium-sized crossover SUV with a European flair. Since then, the Tiguan has established itself as Volkswagen’s best-selling model in New Zealand.
Jump to 2024, Volkswagen has debuted the third-generation of the Tiguan. Naturally, plenty has changed in nearly two decades. The new Tiguan promises more tech, safety and comfort than before.
However, the new Tiguan faces headwinds. There’s increasing pressure from all sides, whether from established competitors or new competitors out of China, all while Volkswagen appears to be managing its own internal woes, leading to industrial action.
Despite all these challenges, can the Tiguan’s past success be indicative of its future performance? More importantly, can the new Tiguan still be considered the go-to European medium crossover for Kiwi buyers?
What We Like and Dislike About The 2025 Volkswagen Tiguan R-Line
| What we like | What we don’t like |
| Interior and drivers assistance technology Quiet, spacious interior Excellent ride quality Refined engine Solid DSG gearbox | Awkward spec-list Build quality in places No hybridised options yet |
What’s In the 2025 Volkswagen Tiguan R-Line Range?
There are three variants of the Volkswagen Tiguan available in New Zealand.
| Model | Price |
| Tiguan Life | $55,990 |
| Tiguan R-Line | $63,990 |
| Tiguan R-Line AWD | $81,990 |
Both entry-level Tiguan Life, and the mid-range Tiguan R-line are powered by a 1.4 litre, inline 4-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine, paired with a 7-speed dual clutch automatic transmission (DSG). The engine provides 110 kW of power and 250Nm of torque. Both are front-wheel drive.
At the top of the range is the Tiguan R-Line AWD, which is powered by a 2.0 litre, inline 4-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine, paired with a 7-speed dual clutch automatic transmission (DSG). This engine has a healthy performance boost, providing 195kW of power and 400Nm of torque. As per the name, this Tiguan is all-wheel drive.
There are seven standard colour options available for the Tiguan range, plus one extra for R-Line models. The standard colours are metallic, while the extra is a pearlescent finish.
- Cipressino Green
- Dolomite Silver
- Dolphin Grey
- Grenadilla Black
- Persimmon Red
- Nightshade Blue
- Pure White
- Oryx White (R-Line and R-Line AWD only) (+$2,000)
For more information on Volkswagen Tiguan, check out the Volkswagen New Zealand website.
How Does The 2025 Volkswagen Tiguan R-Line Compare To Its Competition?
Here are some of the Tiguan’s immediate competition. Some of these are petrol only, and others are offered as a hybrid. Because the Tiguan R-Line is the mid-range vehicle, this table compares the competitor’s mid-range model.
| Make/Model | Engine | Power/Torque (kW/Nm) | Fuel (L/100km) | Towing capacity (kg) | Boot space (litres) | Price |
| Honda CR-V RS AWD | 2.0-litre 4-cylinder hybrid | 140/240 | 5.5 | 600/750 | 581 | $67,000 |
| Ford Escape ST-Line X AWD | 2.5-litre 4-cylinder hybrid | 134/- | 5.3 | 750/2,100 | 556 | $66,490 |
| Volkswagen Tiguan R-Line | 1.4-litre 4-cylinder turbo | 110/250 | 8.5 | 750/1,800 | 652 | $63,900 |
| Mazda CX-5 Limited AWD | 2.5-litre 4-cylinder petrol | 140/252 | 8.1 | 750/1,800 | 401 | $61,190 |
| Peugeot 3008 GT | 1.6-litre 4-cylinder turbo | 134/250 | 6.2 | 750/2,000 | 591 | $60,990 |
| Subaru Forester e-Boxer Sport AWD | 2.0-litre 4-cylinder boxer hybrid | 110/196 | 6.7 | 750/1,200 | 509 | $57,490 |
| Kia Sportage X-Line | 1.6-litre 4-cylinder turbo | 132/265 | 7.5 | 750/1,650 | 543 | $56,760 |
| Toyota RAV-4 XSE Hybrid | 2.5-litre 4-cylinder | 131/221 | 5.3 | 750/1,500 | 542 | $55,990 |
| Hyundai Tucson Elite | 2.0-litre 4-cylinder petrol | 115/192 | 9.0 | 750/1,650 | 503 | $54,990 |
| Skoda Karoq Selection | 1.4-litre 4-cylinder turbo | 110/250 | 7.3 | 750/1,500 | 521 | $54,990 |
| Nissan X-Trail e-Power ST-L | 1.5-litre 3-cylinder turbo hybrid | 150/330 | 6.1 | 750/1,650 | 585 | $51,990 |
| Mitsubishi Outlander Sport | 2.5-litre 4-cylinder petrol | 135/244 | 8.6 | 750/1,600 | 655 | $48,990 |
| Haval H6 Ultra | 2.0-litre 4-cylinder petrol | 150/320 | 7.4 | 750/2,000 | 600 | $40,990 |
| MG HS Excite | 1.5-litre 4-cylinder turbo | 125/275 | 6.9 | 750/1,500 | – | $39,990 |
First Impressions Of The 2025 Volkswagen Tiguan R-Line
The exterior aesthetics of the Tiguan have evolved substantially since 2007.
The first-generation bore plenty of resemblance to the then Volkswagen Golf, only with pointier lights. Back then, the exterior shapes were rounded. The second-generation Tiguan came into its own, growing in size and setting its own design signature which used blockier shapes and sharper features.
The third-generation sits somewhere in-between. It’s similarly proportioned to the previous generation, although its edges have been smoothed-off, providing it with a leaner, more aerodynamic appearance. It’s also wearing the new corporate face, with the headlights, bumpers and surrounding facias resembling the Volkswagen’s electric ID range.
Altogether, Volkswagen’s done a rather good job of updating it. Better still, the exterior colour on our press-vehicle (which Volkswagen calls Cipressino Green) is the business. It’s a classy deep green, with a grey complexion. I reckon it’s perfect for those wanting an actual colour, without it being too shouty.
What’s The Interior Like In The 2025 Volkswagen Tiguan R-Line?
Consumer demand for mid-size crossovers has made the segment one of the most hotly-contested amongst automotive manufacturers.
The thing is, there’s only a finite number of ways a manufacturer can differentiate their vehicle while continuing to be price competitive, and satisfying the ever-growing consumer demands and regulatory requirements of 2025. For this reason, manufacturers prioritise certain aspects to provide their vehicle with a slight edge over the competition. In other words, they have their relative strengths, and equivalently, their relative weaknesses.
For example, the Toyota RAV4 has bulletproof reliability, but for some, its cabin is a touch too utilitarian, while the MG HS’s strength is its affordability, and arguably, also its weakness. The Mazda CX-5 is a beautiful place to sit, provided you don’t have much to carry.
You get the idea.
So, where does the Volkswagen Tiguan have its edge over the competition?
The new Tiguan leads its segment with technology.
For 2025, the Tiguan’s interior has been extensively redesigned and is more tech-forward than before. The obvious change starts in the centre, with a large 12.9’’ infotainment prominently on display. Admittedly, my first thoughts were that Volkswagen had taken the Tesla approach, opting for one big whack of screen, and a whole lot of not much else.
Yet, despite the dominating infotainment screen, the cabin still has plenty of physical controls. More good news is that Volkswagen has turned away from haptic controls, re-introducing a ‘new’ steering wheel with actual buttons on it. If you’ve ever experienced the ‘old’ one, you’ll appreciate just how much of an upgrade this is.
Volkswagen has even developed a multi-function dial, which is hybrid control that can be cycled between volume and drive mode controls.
Anyway, returning to the tech. The infotainment is a 12.9’’ display, with crisp resolution, graphics and good refresh rates. The UI is Volkswagen’s newest, which is simple to use and is responsive to the touch. The infotainment integrates many features, including all those you’d expect along with some show off-features like 30-colour ambient lighting.
The instrument cluster is a fully-digital, configurable LCD digital display, utilising Volkswagen’s Active Info Display ‘Pro’ software. This software is similar to Audi’s Virtual Cockpit, which, in my view, is one of the best configurable instrument clusters in the business. Volkswagen’s version is just as good, again demonstrating crisp resolution, graphics while being easy-to-use.
The infotainment is paired with an 8-speaker audio system, which is the standard for the Tiguan R-Line. A 10-speaker, amp and subwoofer Harman Kardon system can be optioned as part of the Touring package. The standard system is otherwise fairly good.
The resolution of the reversing camera isn’t quite as good as the rest of the infotainment. Even more puzzling was Volkswagen’s decision to only have one camera. Overseas, variants of the R-line have top-down and forward-facing cameras, as do many of the Tiguan’s competitors in New Zealand.
The camera predicament is only the tip-of-the-iceberg, because the Tiguan R-Line (at least, in New Zealand) has a confusing list of standard equipment.
For every feature that’ll impress, there’s another which disappoints. For example, the Tiguan’s front seats have a massaging function, but they’re neither heated nor cooled. The same seats are partially electric for adjusting lumbar support, but reclining, tilt and sliding forward and backwards are all manually-adjusted. Of course, you can get electronically adjustable, heated and ventilated front seats – but they’re part of the Touring Package costing an extra $6,000.
At that point, you’re topping the price range of the segment, and you’re only $11,000 off the Tiguan R-Line AWD, which has all that and more.
The Tiguan also has automated parallel parking, but again, without the front camera, I was anxious to use it to ensure I wouldn’t inadvertently clip the car in front. Imagine explaining that situation to your insurance provider.
Another slight criticism is related to build quality. I should clarify; the Tiguan’s build quality is generally very good, but didn’t really meet expectations. I didn’t get a sense of solidness, or that impression of impenetrable build-quality, which had once characterised the German marques. Admittedly, my standard for Volkswagen is probably higher relative to other competitors in the segment.
To be more objective, certain panels would flex when pressure was applied to them. The worst offender was when you’d use the interior bonnet latch, and the surrounding plastics would all flex. Also, I heard the wing mirrors squeak more than once as they folded into place. This might be specific to our test vehicle, but experiencing this does impact your perception of overall quality.
This aside, the rest of the cabin is well-designed. The cabin is spacious, the seats are comfortable, and there’s plenty of leg and headroom for all occupants. Plenty of light also infiltrates the cabin, owing to the Tiguan’s well-sized glasshouse. There’s also a decent-sized boot, and a proper spare tyre.
What’s The 2025 Volkswagen Tiguan R-Line Like To Drive?
This third-generation Tiguan has brought several new changes, but it’s far-and-away from being a ground-up redesign of the previous generation.
In other words, there’s still several parts which have been iteratively changed, or carried over entirely, from the previous generation Tiguan.
Among those carried over are the engine and gearbox. Underneath the bonnet of the Tiguan R-Line is a 1.4-litre 4-cylinder turbo-petrol outputting 110kW of power and 250Nm of torque. The engine is paired with the 7-speed DSG automatic transmission, driving the front wheels.
These numbers mightn’t seem all that compelling on-paper, but in our experience, Volkswagen’s engines tend to be punchier than the numbers lead on.
Fortunately, this remains true with the new car. Peak torque is produced between 1,500 – 3,500 rpm, providing the Tiguan with good off-the-line thrust. This torque carries through a healthy mid-range, and onto peak power delivery between 5,000 – 6,000 rpm.
The Tiguan’s DSG gearbox flatters the engine, holding it near the powerband between seamless upshifts. Volkswagen were early adopters of dual-clutch gearboxes, and their years of development and real-world testing speaks for itself.
Although top-end performance isn’t the Tiguan’s strength, you’d struggle to find any comparable competitor that’s much better. Also, if you’re hungry for more power, there is the Tiguan R-Line AWD.
There is one irritating issue, which is the throttle response. At low speed, you’ll occasionally encounter a lag between touching the throttle and getting any forward drive. This can be irksome, particularly if you’re trying to nip through at the traffic lights.
In general, the Tiguan delivers healthy performance from its relatively small powertrain package, and there aren’t many real-world situations where you’ll find the Tiguan lacking for performance. More importantly, the Tiguan’s engine is quiet and refined. Even when pressed upon, the engine doesn’t sound laboured. There’s even a tasteful wastegate noise from the turbocharger.
Quietness and refinement appear to have been prioritised by Volkswagen’s engineers. The engine is only one part, though Volkswagen has also provided the Tiguan with double-glazed windows and greater application of sound deadening materials to reduce outside noise.
The Tiguan’s ride quality is also superb, as it had been in the previous generation. Compared with the competition, the Tiguan’s ride quality is among one of the best in the segment. Interestingly, the new-generation car shares its several chassis components and its floor-pan with the outgoing car.
Like many Volkswagens, the Tiguan’s steering is light and direct, making it nice to operate in-and-around town, or anywhere with tight quarters. Also, like many Volkswagens, the steering is largely devoid of any feel and feedback. This isn’t a dealbreaker, particularly for a mid-size crossover. Although, for those who value this, may find themselves enjoying a Mazda CX-5 or Honda CR-V more.
On the open road, the Tiguan demonstrates good body control, effectively minimising any secondary motions when travelling over undulating sections of state-highway. When the road becomes twister, the handling is tidy and predictable. Although, the Tiguan isn’t as quite as athletic as some of its direct competition. Again, the Mazda CX-5 comes to mind.
Being petrol-powered, the Tiguan’s fuel economy won’t be as efficient as some of its hybridised competitors. Despite this, the Tiguan is reasonably efficient for its size. We achieved a fuel economy result of 8.8 litres per 100kms, which is only 0.3 litres above Volkswagen’s claimed figure of 8.5 litres per 100kms. I even managed to get it into the high 7’s on one motorway journey.
Like we said earlier, the new Tiguan’s competing edge in the segment is its tech. This includes an extensive list of driver safety technology. The third-generation introduces new safety features, including a centre airbag, Front Cross Traffic Alert, Oncoming Vehicle Braking (at junctions), and Traffic Sign Recognition, all of which contribute to the Tiguan’s 5-star ANCAP safety rating.
There have also been several upgrades to existing safety features, including Forward Collision Assist now detecting pedestrians and cyclists, along with refinements made to the Rear Cross Traffic Alert.
The Lane-Keep Assistance also appears to have had iterative improvements. The software in the Tiguan performs better than many of its competitors. At times, it does stray close to the lines, but otherwise, it’s reasonably effective at guiding you through corners on the motorway.
The Lane-Keeping Assistance system is also more vigilant than most of the competition. If you’re holding the steering wheel too lightly, it’ll require a good jiggle from the driver to tell it you’re still paying attention.
If you’re not paying attention for any reason, it’ll tap the brakes for a split second, so as to “wake you up”. It was disconcerting when I encountered it for the first time – serves me right for being distracted, I suppose.
READ ON TO THE END TO CHECK OUT OUR SUMMARY OF THE VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN R-LINE.
2025 Volkswagen Tiguan R-Line- Specifications
| Vehicle Type | 4-door mid-size crossover SUV |
| Starting Price | $63,990 |
| Price as Tested | $63,990 |
| Engine | 1.4-litre turbocharged 4-cylinder petrol |
| Power, Torque (kW/Nm) | 110/250 |
| Transmission | 7-speed dual-clutch gearbox (DSG) |
| Spare Wheel | Spacesaver |
| Tare Weight (kg) | 1,483 |
| Length x Width x Height (mm) | 4539 x 1859 x 1658 |
| Cargo Capacity (litres) | 652/1,650 |
| Fuel tank capacity (litres) | 60 (95 or higher) |
| Fuel economy (L/100km) | Advertised Spec – Combined – 8.5 Real-World Test – Combined – 8.8 Low Usage: 0-6 / Medium Usage 6-12 / High Usage 12+ |
| Towing capacity (Kg, unbraked/braked) | 750/1,800 |
| Turning circle (metres) | 11.6 Small: 6-10m / Medium 10-12m / Large 12m+ |
| Warranty | 5-year/150,000-km manufacturer’s warranty 5-year Roadside Assistance |
| Safety information | ANCAP Rating – 5 stars Rightcar.govt.nz – 5 Stars – TI6UAN |
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